Automatic trap nest



Jan. 13- 1925' 1,523,256

' E. BUTLER AUTOMATIC TRAP NEsT Filed June 20, 1924 X7 7 j A INVENTOR.

:i 2.1 B Y Z0 l M ATToRNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

NITED STATES ran EDGAR BUTLER, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC Application filed June 20,

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that EDGAR BUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, has invented certain new and useful In'iprovements in Automatic Trap Nests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic trap nest and has for its principal object to provide a novel means whereby when a hen enters the nest, a door will be closed be` hind the hen, means being provided whereby when the hen leaves the nest a door will be opened and at the same time reset the nest to an operative position.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an automatic trap nest of the above mentioned character, which is of such a construction as to enable the same to be automatically set in an operative position by the entrance and exit of a hen therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic trap nest of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong, durable and well adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during Athe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same :h`

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my trap nest with parts shown in section and the same being in the position ready to receive the hen.

Figure 2 is an end elevation showing the entrance of the trap nest.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the trap nest in section with some of the elements shown in side elevation, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a casing which is of a boxlike construction and is provided with an opening 2 in one end thereof which provides the inlet or entrance to the nest, the opposite end being also open as shown as 3 in the drawings to provide for an outlet. The casing 1 is supported by the supporting member 4 TRAP NEST.

1924. Serial No. 721,269.

in the manner as more clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

The inlet end 2 is provided with a cover 5 which is hinged the casing 1 and the outlet end 3 of the casing 1 is provided with the hinged cover T which is hinged to the bottom end of the casing 1 as shown at S in the drawings. A suitable cross head 9 is supported 65 upon the top of the casing l and the arms 10 and 11 of the cross head 9 are adapted to support the pulleys 12 and 13 respectively and these arms 10 and 11 extend outwardly from the cross head 9 for tance. Adapted to be mounted over the pulleys 12 and 13 of the cross head 9 is the cable 14 which is connected at one end to the free end of the hinged cover 7 as shown at 15 in the the cable 14 is connected to the free end of the cov-er 5 as shown at 16 in the drawings. In this manner it will be seen that the hinged covers 5 and 7 respectively will be caused to simultaneously be operated by the device 80 and 21 which extend through the sides of 90 the casing 1 whereby the platform and nest may be pivotally supported in the casing.

The platform 17 has its forward end adjacent the inlet opening 2 and is secured to a flexible member its opposite end to t-he lower end of a trip lever 23. This trip lever 23 is pivoted at 24 in one side of the casing 1 and the upper free ends thereof are adapted to engage the lower end 25 is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the hinged cover 5 and this elongated rod 26 extends through a suitable opening 2T provided in the inlet end adjacent directly above the inlet opening 2. A 2S is provided in the opening 27 and is adapted to t in the notch 29 formed in the bottom face of the elongated rod 2G inter` mediate its ends. The purpose of this construction will be hereinafter more fully de- 1H' scribed. A suitable stop pin 30 is supported 1n one side of the casing 1 `and is adapted at 6 to the upper end of 60 a substantial disdrawings and the opposite end of forms the nest 22 which is connected at 95 of an elongated rod 26 which 100 suitable piii 103 to limit'V the movement of the trip lever 23 in one^direction; A coil springB1is-con nected to the casing at one end and-to the trip lever 23 adjacent the free end 24theref of for a purpose to be more fully described.

Normally the trap nest is in the'position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings wherein the hinged cover is extended inahor-i Zontal position and the notch 29 in the elongated rod 2G rests on the pin 28 provided in the inlet end ofitlie casing 1. Vhen in this positionythe free end of the elongated rod-126 isin engagement with the free end of the strip lever 23-as more clearly shown in'Fig. 1' of the-drawings. It is tobe also noted that thehingedcover 7 is free from the outlet1 I3V arovided inthe casing'l. Thev trap'nest being set inthis position, thehen enters through the inlet opening 2 and upon stepping uponfthe platform 17, the trip'leverV is caused to' swing upon the pivotal'support therefor and thereby causes the free end to raise the free end=25 oftheelongated bar upwardly whereby the'notch 29 in the elongated bar 26 is 4'releascdfrom engagei'nent with the'pin 28so'as to permitE the hinged cover to move downwardly. It isto be further understood that the hingedycover 5 is of greaterweight than the' hinged cover 7j thereby permitting the hinged cover 5 to swing downwardly by gravitation and cause the bar 26 to-moveinwardly within the casing 1 and at=thesametime cause the door 5 to close the inlet opening- 2 and set? the outletI cover or door Tinto a raised position as shown inthe dotted lines inFig. 3 of the drawings. The hen seated within the nest 18 is prevented from leavingthecasing'l through the inlet opening and must' leave through the outlet opening 3. Then the hen leaves the nest 1Sl and the casing 1 it passesthroughl the outlet 3 and steps upon the hinged cover 7. Uponst'eppingupon the `hinged cover 7l the cable 14 will `becaused to be brought downwardlyand at the same time cause the hinged cover 5` of' the inlet openingf2 to be raised and'upon raising the cover 5 the elongated bar 26 is again brought into its normal position whereby the free end thereof is in engagement with the free end 24; of-the trip member 23 it being further understood that the spring l31 will normally retain thetrip lever in ahorizontal-position as shown in Fig. lof the drawings after the hen has leftthe nest 18. `When in this position it will be seen that the hen upon leaving the casing will reset the nest so asfto per'- mit another hen to enter the same.

It will thus be seen from th-e'foregoing description that an automatic trap nestl has been provided wherein the nest isset automatically bythe entrance and exit of a hen and does not require the necessity cfa-person standing nearby to set the nestafter the-hen has left the same.

The simplicity of the arrangement of my trap nest rendersf'the same very efficient in. use and does not require the necessity of' a; number of complicated parts in orde-r to ac complish the necessary results.

lrom theforegoing description of the construction of my improved apparatus, it will be seen? that 1- have Vprovided a simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the objects of the-invention, and while have' `particularly described the elements best-- adapted f to perform the functions set forth, it is'obvious that various clgiangesin form, proportion and'in theV minor details ofl construction may be resorted to, without departing fromthe spirit' o'rv sacrificing any of the Vprinciples ofi the' invention;

That I cla-imas new anddesire to secure by- Letters Patent is y1. in automatic trap-nest ofi the clas'sfde'i scribed comprisingjal casing provided with an inlet atone end 'andan' outle'ti inthe lopp'osite' end, hinged closrire's'jtherefor, a orns head mounted on the-top of said casing andA i" having the a-r'msof. said cross head provided with pulleys at the outer" ends thereof, l a cable connected at its outer ends to` said closures` and' adapted to travel over said' pulleysfon said cross head, afnest'jpivotailymounted inf said casing, a trip-lever asso'- ciated with said nest adjacent the i'nletopenV ing andada'pted to release the closures 'therefor, said4 closures operating simultaneously as and forthe purposedescribed.-

2. Angauto'matic trap nest of the-cla'ssde scribed comprising a lcasing providefdvwith an inlet in one end and/anijoutlet'- in the' opposite end-hinged closures therefor,A a trap nestfpivotally 'mounted saidlcasing1 adjacent the bottom thereof, a tripfflever pivotally mounted in said" casing-:land connected to one end of saidnest adjacent the inletof said casing,V an elongated barl pivot# allywmounted'at one end to the inletclosure for said inlet,the opposite end ofsaidlbar extending through the inlet end ofi s ai'd casing and having the' free end thereof in engagement with `said trip lever, mea-nsf connecting said closures whereby the same are operated simultaneously by the action of the trip leverl on `said bar.

3. An automatic trap nest of the class de'- scribed comprising a casinghaving an'linletV at one end andan outlet atfthe opposite end, closures therefor, a cross head mounted on the topi of said' casingA andhavingi the outer ends of the arms thereof provided with pulleys, a cable connected atits respective ends tosaid closuresand-traveling oversaid pulleys on said cross-head, a nest pivotally mountedin said casing 'adjacent the' bottom thereof, va' trip lever pivotally mounted in said casingladjacent the inlettherein,- a flex# :ible connection between said nestl and' the lower end of said-trip lever, an elongated bar pivoted to said closure for said inlet and having` the free end thereof extending through an opening provided in the inlet end of said casing, the free end of said bar being in engagement with the free end of said trip lever, said bar normally supporting said closure in an inoperative position, and said trip lever adapted to move said bar whereby said closures are simultaneously operated.

4. An automatic trap nest of the class described comprising a casing provided with an inlet in one end and an outlet in the opposite end, hinged closures therefor, a cross head on the back of said casing and having the arms thereof provided with pulleys at the outer end, a cable having its ends connected to said closures and extending over said pulleys on said cross head, a nest pivotally mounted intermediate its end in said casing adjacent the bottom thereof, a trip lever pivotally mounted in said easing adj acent the inlet end, a flexible connection between the lower end of said trip lever and said nest, means for normally retaining` said trip lever in an approximately horizontal position, an elongated bar pvoted to the closure forsaid inlet and extending through an opening in the inlet end of said Casing, a pin extending in said opening and adapted to engage the notch provided in said elongated bar to normally support the closure in an inoperative position, the free end of said bar being in engagement with the upper free end of said trip lever, said trip lever adapted to release said bar from said pin whereby said closures may be actuated simultaneously, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

EDGAR BUTLER.y 

